Susie was back at the ER, her third visit this month. She complained of head pressure. The doctor asked her questions and ordered a CT scan, which indicated no physical disease. Susie insisted that something was horribly wrong with her. “What if I have a brain tumor or a brain bleed?” she thought over and over and over. Continue Reading →
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Picture yourself in line to ride the biggest, fastest rollercoaster at Six Flags Great America. You feel nervous as the people all around you rave about the steep drops, the banked turns, and the cobra roll. You inch toward the platform and notice your quickened heartbeat and upset stomach and wonder, “Will this rollercoaster be fun or a nightmare? Should I stick it out or bail? Is it better to engage my fear or avoid it?” Continue Reading →
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My mother-in-law is an expert worrier. She worries about the weather. She worries about dinner turning out alright. She worries that my husband and I will get home in one piece. Worry fills one’s thoughts with apprehension. It can keep a person up at night. It also seems second nature, right? Seriously, who does not worry at least some of the time? Continue Reading →
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“What’s wrong with me?” my married friend Lisa blurted. “My sleep is awful, I get horrible hot flashes, the pounds keep piling on, and I turn from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde on the daily. And sex? I could not care less. Seriously, I miss my youth!” Lisa’s angst is shared by a growing population of women in midlife (ages 45 to 60) who are experiencing menopausal symptoms like night sweats and mood swings. Let’s survey some of the physical, emotional, and relational changes in menopause and how a counselor might help a woman in this transition. Continue Reading →
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A dozen or so years ago, when I began to biblically counsel women, I kept running into a problem: the women I came alongside very often had a paltry view of God. He was little; they were big. (Or, conversely, God was a monster!) In their minds, He was not who the Scriptures say He is. Thus, when meeting with counselees, I usually focus on two main areas: first, to think rightly (Rom. 12:2); second, to develop the holy habit of reading the Bible regularly. My goal continues to be for them to know God as He reveals Himself in His Word and to enjoy Him forever. Continue Reading →
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